Folding car-step.



J. P. WHITE. FOLDING GAR STEP; APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1914.

1 1 1 2, 1 82, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

PATNT GFFIGE.

' l VTHITE, OF CENTER, OKLAHGMA, ASSIGHQR 01E Ol lE-HALF TO ELMLR C.

EUEEEEES, l3? CENTER, @KLAI'IDNIA;

Specification of Ihettcrs Patent.

atented Sept. so, 1914.

' fipplicetion filed June 3, with Serial No; Misfit,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. litmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Center in the county of Pontotoc, state of Oklal una, have invented certain new and useful movements in Folding Car-Steps; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable othersskilled in the. art to which it appertains to make and useithe same.

This invention relates to cars, particularly to the steps therefor, and has for its object the provision of a novel extension step wl i may be folded back up )11 the step of this character which is prowith novel means whereby it may he supported-end securely held when in its extended or folded position.

An important object is the provision of a novel car 'step of this character which will be simple in construction, cheap in manufacture, eii'icient and durable in use and a general improvement of the art.

With these and other objects and advantages in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and coinhination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which' Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a car platform and steps, showing my toldingstep applied thereto, Fig. is a vertical sectional view therethrough, looking in one direction, Fig. 3 is a similar View looking in the opposite direction, Fig. 4- is a side swation of the step in its folded. posilion, and Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the hinge structure.

Referring more particularly to the draw-- ing, the numeral 5 designates the platform a, car comprising a floor portion 6 and side walls 7. The usual stationary steos 8 and 9 are provided to the lower one of which is secured the usual hand rail 10.

My invention consists in providing an auxiliary step hinged upon the lowest sto tionary step, adapted to be extended for use for the alighting of passengers when the car is stationary and adopted to be folded upwardly and be disposed out of the way when the car is moving. The step 11 is iiiiportent object is the provision of a hingedly secured upon the free edgeof thestep 9 by a peculiar form of hinge 12;

The hinge 12 comprises a pair of ears 13 secured upon-the'edges of the step 9 and a pair of ears 14: secured upon theedge of the necting the ears 14. When the etc 11 is in its extended position, the upper 9 go of the plate 17 abuts against the inner face of the plate 16 and consequently prevents downward movement of the step 11. When the step is folded, the plate 17 lies flat upon the plate 16 and prevents the step from being folded too far upwardly. As an additional support, I provide a rod 18 pivoted as at 19 between cars 20, secured upon the free edge of the step 11. The rod 18 extends upwardly in an inclined direction adjacent the hand rail and extends through a bracket 21 secured upon one of the sides 7. Rollers 22 are j ournaled within the bracket 21 for easily guiding the rod 18 in its upward movement with a minimum degree of friction. The rod 1.8 is provided with a head The engaging the top side of the bracket 21 when the step 11 is in its extended or operative position I provide achain 24, se-

cured to an ear 25 upon the other edge of the step 11 and provided upon one end with a ring 26 engageable upon a hook 27 secured upon the other side wall 7, when the step is extendedd The chain 24 is provided with another ring 28 for a pur pose to he described. The step .11 is normally held in its extended position by a spring 29 secured to the step 9 and the step 11. Vihen it is desired to fold the step 11 upwardly it is merely necessary to disen gage the ring 26 from the hook 27, and then pull upwardly upon the chain 24 until the step 11 has been raised, after which it may be held in'its raised position by engaging the ring 28 on the hook 27. When this is done, the rod 18 Will slide upwardly between the rollers 22 and be disposed out of the Way.

' From the foregoing description and a study of the drewin it will be apparent that l have thus provi ed asimple and novel extensible ear step which may quickly and easily be adapted for'use when passengers ali t. i

t will be readily understood that I reservethe right to make various changes in the-form, construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention or limiting the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

- claim:

In an extensible car step structure, an auxiliary step provided upon its ends with ears,- ears secured upon the free edge of a stationary'step, said ears being pivoted to each other, a curved plate connecting said first named ears, a curved plate connecting said second named ears, the upper edge of said first named plate abutting against the second named curved plate when said step is folded upwardly.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa- 30 ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. WHITE.

Witnesses:

E. C. BU'RRUBS, BURT HARDIN. 

